Valve-spring-compressing device



Jan. 29, 1924. 1,482,297

' L. H. GRAY VALVE SPRING COMPRESSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29 1924. 1,482,297

' v L. H. GRAY VALVE SPRING COMPRESSING DEVICE Filed D60. 28. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F zig. 35. F f\\ Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

EJNITED. STATES mean? VALVE-SPRING-COMPRESSING DEVI IICE.

Application filed December 28, 1922. Serial No. 609,484.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO H. GRAY, citizen of the United States residing at Sta n ford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Spring- Compressing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for compressing the springs of internal combustion engine valves to permit of readily removing the key which supports the spring bearing washer thereby to release the valve, whereby it may be readily lifted for replacement or for carrying out the usual valve grinding operation.

permit of the removal of the cotter pin or key and when withdrawn"permit the springs to fall out of position thereby re-- quiring their resetting at the end of-the grinding operation and involving additional time and labor in that connection. The present invention, however, contemplates the provision of a device which may be readily mounted at the side of the motor bloc on which the valves are located and left in position when not in use, the same being arranged in an out of the way position to avoid interference with the accessories of the motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and reliable construction which may be easily manufactured and assembled and may be operated with thegreatest ease andfacility when in use. In that connection it is pointed out that .the device is noiseless or silent when left on the car and may therefore be a part of the standard equipment. Furthermore, the invention may be applied with facility to any type of motor.

With the above andother objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same conslsts in the novel constructlon, combination and arrangement of parts,

hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical arrangement of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side View ofa motor having the invention applied thereto.

' Figure 2 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail elevation partly in section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing the position of the liftingyokes when the device is not in use.

Figure at is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the device in operation and compressing one of the valve springs.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the liftin or compressing yokes.

igure 6 is a front elevation of the yoke shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 7 a vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is a detail view illustrating one of the bearings for the rock shaft.

. Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention intoeifect it is proposed to provide a construction which has the capacity of compressing any one or more of the valve springs of a motor by a simple movement and which maintains or looks them intheir compressed position, automatically, until released in tentionally to again" permit the valve springs to bear upon the washers supported on the usual spring keys. In that connection "it will be apparent that since the pres ent invention contemplates a common operating means for all of the spring compressing devices in the required number, the same is especlally advantageous in connection with multi-cylinder motors which have a multiplicity of valves.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be observed that the invention may be applied to a motor M "equipped with the usual valves the stems S of which are surrounded by the springs S that normally bear against a cupped washer W which is maintained in position on the stem S by a cotter pin or equivalent key K.

At one side of the valve position is mounted a rock shaft 1 which is preferably of rectangular or other non-circular crosssection except at its bearing ends 2 and 3 by which it is rotatably supported in the bearing bracket l located at one end offthe motor bloc and in the bearing bracket 5 suitably secured to the opposite end of the motor bloc. To facilitate the mounting ofthe rock shaft in the bearings the end 3 may be insert-ed in a circular opening or hole in the bracket 5 to prevent its lifting out when rocked, as will presently appear, while the'end 2 maybe placed in the horizontal part of a bayonet slot 4 to'prevent accidental disengagement with the hearing 4.

A feature of importance is the provision of a lock of some suitable kind to provide for holding the parts of the device in such position as to maintain a valve spring compressed during the valve and valve seat grinding operation-,and permitting the valve to be readily lifted and replaced, and the parts re-secured, before it becomes necessary to release the spring. Obviously, many forms of locking devices can be employed for that purpose, but for illustrative purposes there is show-n in the drawings, a pawl and segment type of lock that is effective to obtain the function noted. Referring to that illustrated embodiment of a-lock: the bracket is shown provided with a segment or rack 6 adapted to cooperate with a dog 7 carried by the lower end of a spring-pressed releasing rod 8 mountedin the actuating lever 9 and having the thumb button 10 for effecting its movement within the lever. The lower end of the lever is preferably provided with a socket portion 11 for receiving the bearing end 3 of the rock shaft 1 and to connect the socket portion of the lever with the rock shaft a suitable pin or key 12 may be provided, the same being adapted to diametrically pierce bot-h thesocket and the bearing end when corcsponding openings therein register. To avoid loss of the key or )in 12 a chain 13 may be attached thereto and secured to the motor bloc as indicated at 14. I

The lifting or compressing yokes for compressing the valve springs S are each designated in their entirely as A and are shown in detail in Figures -5 and 6 of the drawings. These yokes preferably include a body 15 having spaced arms extending to one side thereof and a hub portion 16 provided with a central opening 17 corresponding in crosssection to the rock shaft 1. If the rock shaft is of a square cross-section, as shown in the drawings, the opening 17 is also square to permit the yoke member to be interlocked with the rock shaft for the purpose of rotative movement therewith when the rock shaft is turned, but yet permitting the free shifting 'or sliding movement of the yoke longitudinally on the rock shaft to thereby enable it to be placed opposite any selected valve position. The slidable interlocking engagement of the yokes A with the rock shaft is essential, however it may be acagainst the lower washer Vifor the valve spring. Therefore, it will be observed that the forked or bifurcated washer seat 19 is adapted to engage beneath the spring supporting washer as shown in Figure ite lift the same out of engagement with thecotter key K to thereby releasethe valve for grinding purposes or removaL Obviously one or any number of yoke devices A may be mounted on the rock shaft 1 to permit of one or;more, or in fact all of the springs to be compressed by the same operation of the shaft.

With reference tothe manner of openation it is pointed out that Figuresl, 2'- and 3 show the normal inoperative position of parts. hen the parts are in this position, the yoke membersA are free to slide along the rock shaft 1 since they are clear of the valve stems and tlie'springs and are also ranged in such a manner as to clear the carburetor and other accessories for the motor, thereby readily permitting of the shifting and adjusting of the yoke members with the greatest freedon. After theyoke member is properly positioned opposite the valve stem, and assuming that the lever 9 is con nected with the rock shaft, the operator may pull the lever so as to rotate the rock shaft thereby to bring the washer seat 19 of alyoke member A into engagement with the washer W upon which the spring'S rests, and, by continued movement of the lever compress the spring to the desired degree whereupon it will be automatically held due tothe engagement of the pawl 7 with the rack or segment 6. V

lVhen it is desired to release the spring and again permit it to seat on. the washers W the release rod 10 may be manipulated to disengage the dog or pawl 7 from the segment and permit the lever to be swung back to its original position and cause the rock shaft to throw the, yoke members A out of the way.

It will of ceursebe understood that the manner in which vthe lever 10 is held in its adjusted position to maintain the rock shaft in adjusted position may be changed to suit various requirements but the type ofpawl means for operating the shaft to compress the spring, and locking means for holding the parts in adjusted position.

2. A device of the class described including a shaft, a valve spring engaging member shiftable on. the shaft to different valve springv locations, and means for operating the shaft to cause compression of the spring.

3. A device of the class described including a shaft, a valve spring compressing member supported by saidshaft and shiftable to various valve spring locations, means for operating the shaft, and means for locking the shaft in its adjusted position.

4. A device of the class described including a shaft, a member supported on the shaft and shiftable to various valve spring locations, a seat element carried by said member and adapted to have a lifting engagement beneath the valve spring, and operating means for said shaft.

5.'A device of the class described including a shaft, a yoke member supported by the shaft and shiftable to various valve spring positions, a forked valve washer seat pivotally carried by the yoke member, and operating means forthe shaft.

6. A device of the class described including a shaft, a yoke member supported by the shaft and shiftable to various valve spring positions, a forked valve washer seat pivotally carried by theyoke member, operating means for the shaft, and locking means for the shaft.

7 A device of the class described including a shaft, a yoke member supported by the shaft and shiftable to various valve spring positions, a forked valve washer seat pivotally carried by the yoke member, operating means for the shaft, and hand controlled locking means for the shaft.

8. A valve spring compressing device in cluding a rock shaft, a yoke member slidable on the rock shaft, and means for actuating said rock shaft to cause the yoke to compress the valve spring.

9; A valve sprin compressing device comprising'a rock sha t, a yoke member slidable thereon but interlocked therewith for swinging movement, and means for actuating said rock shaft.

10. A valve spring compressing device comprising a rock shaft, a yoke member slidable thereon but interlocked therewith for swinging movement, and lever means including a holding dog and segment for operating said rock shaft.

11. A valve spring compressing device comprising a rock shaft, a yoke member slidable thereon and interlocked therewith for swinging movement, operating means for said rock shaft and means for holding said operating means in adjusted position.

12. A valve spring compressing device including in combination with the motor bloc, bearings provided at opposite ends of the motor bloc, a rock shaft journaled in said bearings and having a non-circular intermediate portion, valve spring compressing members slidable on the intermediate portions of said rock shaft, and means for operating said rock shaft.

13. A valve spring compressing device including in combination with the motor bloc, bearings provided at opposite'ends of the motor bloc, a rock shaft journaled in said bearings and having a non-circular intermediate portion, valve spring compressing members slidable on the intermediate portion of said rock shaft, and means for operating said rock shaft includinga manually releasable dog and segment device.

14. A valve spring compressing device including a rock shaft common to all of the valve positions of the motor bloc, valve spring compressing members keyed with said rock shaft and means for rotating said rock shaft to cause the valve compressing members to compress the valve springs.

15. A valve spring compressing device including a rock shaft common to all of the valve positions of the motor bloc, yoke members keyed with said rock shaft and means for rotating said rock shaft to cause the yoke members to compress the valve springs. V i

16. A valve sprin compressing device including a rock sha t of non-circular crosssection arranged at one side of the valve position, a yoke member mounted on said rock shaft and including a hub portion having an opening of the same cross-sectional area as the rock shaft and also having a bifurcated portion, and a washer seat pivotally supported by said bifurcated portion.

17. A device of the class described including a suitably mounted shaft, a valve spring engaging member carried by the shaft, means at the end of said shaft for operating the same, and locking means for holding the parts in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEO HYAOINTH GRAY. 

